Illustration by Denise Wantz

GARDEN MAINTENANCE

(Mid-Elevations)
Protect sweet corn—When earworm moths lay their eggs on corn silks, hatching larvae start feeding on the developing kernels. To smother emerging larvae, dab mineral oil on corn silks. Timing is important because applying oil too early interferes with pollination. Apply just as silks begin to wilt and turn from creamy white to brown. If they are brown and dry, it is too late to control the larvae.

(Mid- and High Elevations)
Prune brambles—After harvesting fruit trees, cut old blackberry and raspberry canes to the ground.
Solarize soil—Garden beds with soil-borne diseases or weeds will benefit from six to eight weeks of soil solarization during the heat of summer.
Deadhead—Snip off spent blossoms on annuals and roses to extend their flowering season. Trim leggy annuals to rejuvenate.
Prevent powdery mildew—A rise in humidity during the summer monsoon season encourages this fungal disease, common on apples, grapes, roses, vining vegetable crops and zinnias. Inhibit its spread by planting resistant varieties, using drip irrigation (rather than overhead sprinkling), watering in the morning, and promoting air circulation among plants by not overcrowding.
Mow—Lawns kept at optimum mowing height are healthier than those mowed too low or infrequently. Mow warm-season grasses at least weekly to maintain the following heights: hybrid Bermuda grass and zoysia, ½-1 ½ inches; and buffalograss, 2-3 inches. Cool-season grasses, which grow at a slower rate in summer, can be mowed less frequently to maintain optimum heights. They include: Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue, 2-3 inches; plus ryegrass, 1-2 inches. Do not fertilize cool-season grasses in summer.
Harvest rainwater—Channel rainwater to planting areas with swales and berms. Add a “rain chain” or downspout to collect rain in barrels.
Adjust watering—Reduce irrigation frequency if rains are adequate. Check irrigation timers after lightning storms or power outages, which can disrupt programming.

WHAT TO PLANT

(Mid- and High Elevations)
Vegetables—Sow seeds for a fall harvest of cool-season beets, carrots, chard, green onions, leaf lettuce, peas and spinach. Transplant warm-season cucumber, eggplant, melon, okra, pepper, pumpkin and squash.
All landscape plants—The monsoon season offers good planting weather because rainfall, high humidity and low wind reduce stress on new transplants.
Drought-tolerant shrubs—Native to the western U.S., the following plants provide seasonal interest with flowers or foliage color: cliff rose (Cowania mexicana), curlleaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius), fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium), mountain mahogany (C. montanus), rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus) and three-leaf sumac (Rhus trilobata).
Native grasses—Mix species for diversity in the landscape by planting blue grama, bluestem, buffalo grass, Indian ricegrass or sideoats grama. Sow seed just before the monsoons begin. Most native grasses are not suited for play or high traffic but are drought-tolerant and provide food for pollinators and birds. Grass mixes for arid growing conditions are available at High Country Gardens (highcountrygardens.com) and Native Seeds/SEARCH (nativeseeds.org).